7 Advanced Life Support (ALS) The provision of medically necessary supplies and services during ground ambulance transportation, including the provision of at least one ALS intervention. The ALS intervention must be medically necessary and in accordance with state and local laws, required to be conducted by an emergency medical technicianintermediate (EMT-Intermediate) or EMT- Paramedic. 7

8 Advanced Life Support, Level 2 (ALS2) The provision of medically necessary supplies and services during ground ambulance transportation, including: (1) At least three separate administrations of one or more medications by intravenous push/bolus or by continuous infusion (excluding crystalloid fluids), or (2) Medically necessary supplies and services, and the provision of at least one of the following ALS2 procedures: manual defibrillation/cardioversion endotracheal intubation central venous line cardiac pacing chest decompression surgical airway; or intraosseous line 8

10 Basic Life Support (BLS) The provision of medically necessary supplies and services during ground ambulance transportation. The ambulance must be staffed by an individual who is qualified in accordance with state and local laws as an emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-Basic). 10

11 Specialty Care Transport (SCT) Interfacility transportation of a critically injured or ill recipient by a ground ambulance vehicle, including the provision of medically necessary supplies and services, at a level of service beyond the scope of the EMT- Paramedic. 11

12 Specialty Care Transport (SCT) (Continued) SCT is necessary when a recipient s condition requires ongoing care that must be furnished by one or more health professionals in an appropriate specialty area, for example: emergency or critical care nursing emergency medicine respiratory care cardiovascular care, or a paramedic with additional training 12

14 Service Requirements Medicaid may only reimburse for medically necessary ambulance services provided to eligible Medicaid recipients. The recipient must be eligible for Medicaid on the date the service is rendered. 14

15 Service Requirements (Continued) If the recipient was ineligible on the date of service, but subsequently became retroactively eligible for the date of service, Medicaid can reimburse the claim. If the service requires authorization, post authorization can be granted when the recipient was ineligible or pending an eligibility determination on the date of service and subsequently became retroactively eligible. 15

16 Medical Conditions List The Medical Conditions List is compiled and maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Medical Conditions List contains ambulance codes for both emergency and non-emergency conditions. The condition code is based on the recipient s condition at the time of transport as observed and documented by the ambulance crew. 16

17 Medical Conditions List Use of the condition codes will not guarantee payment of the claim or payment for a certain level of service. Ambulance providers and suppliers must retain adequate documentation of the patient s condition, other on-scene information, and details of the transport (e.g., medications administered, changes in the patient s condition, and miles traveled), all of which may be subject to medical review by Medicaid or Medicaid s authorized representative. Medicaid will rely on medical record documentation to justify coverage, not simply the condition codes by themselves. 17

18 How to Obtain a Copy? To obtain a copy of the most updated Medical Conditions List codes, please view the Current Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 15, for Ambulance on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Web site, 18

19 Exceptions to the ATS Handbook Limits (Special Services) Process Florida Medicaid provides services to eligible children under the age of 21, if such services are medically necessary to correct or ameliorate a defect, a condition, or a physical or mental illness. Included are diagnostic services, treatment, equipment, supplies, and other measures described in Section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act, codified in 42 USC 1396d(a). 19

20 Exceptions to the ATS Handbook Limits (Special Services) Process (Continued) Services requested in excess of limitations described the ATS handbook or the associated fee schedule for children under the age of 21, may be approved if medically necessary through the prior authorization process. 20

21 Medical Conditions List If the recipient s medical condition is not included on the Medical Conditions List, but appears to the ambulance provider to meet Medicaid s definition of medical necessity, the ambulance provider must obtain authorization from the Medicaid area office to be reimbursed for the trip. 21

23 Covered Services Transportation of recipients due to closure or decertification of a Nursing Facility by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Nursing facility not equipped to provide required level of care services when the recipient has a change in level of care since initial facility enrollment. Transportation of Baker Act Recipients, if no longer threat to themselves and others, to medically necessary services. 23

25 Levels of Life Support Services Reimbursement for Ground Ambulances Medicaid will reimburse for ground ambulance services when the recipient s condition falls within one or more of the condition codes listed on the Medical Conditions List, pending Medicaid eligibility on the date of service. 25

26 Levels of Life Support Services Reimbursement for Ground Ambulances, (Continued) Medicaid reimburses an all-inclusive fee for Advanced Life Support (ALS), Advanced Life Support Level 2 (ALS2), Basic Life Support (BLS), and Specialty Care Transport (SCT) service levels. 26

27 Levels of Life Support Services Reimbursement for Ground Ambulances (Continued) Medicaid reimbursement for ALS, ALS2, BLS, or SCT is based on the recipient s medical condition at the time of transport as listed on the Medical Conditions List, as well as the level of life support service(s) provided for the recipient during transport. The Medical Conditions List indicates whether a condition requires ALS or BLS services. 27

28 Reimbursement Based Upon Levels of Life Support Services for Ground Ambulances Medicaid will not pay ALS rates when the recipient s condition, as listed on the Medical Conditions List, requires only BLS services, even if the vehicle is licensed and equipped for ALS services. 28

29 Reimbursement Based Upon Levels of Life Support Services for Ground Ambulances (Continued) Medicaid will not pay ALS2 or SCT rates when the specific criteria defining those emergency services are not met or cannot be verified. 29

30 Emergency Transportation Medicaid reimburses for emergency transportation (ALS or BLS) by ambulance, whether ground or air. Emergency transportation is considered necessary when the recipient has an emergency medical condition as defined in the Florida Medicaid Provider General Handbook. 30

31 Emergency Transportation (Continued) Emergency transportation does not require prior authorization. However, the provider must document the medical necessity of the emergency and keep the documentation on file for five years. Scheduled ambulance service (ALS or BLS) is not emergency transportation. All scheduled ambulance services must be authorized before providing the service. 31

32 Out-of-County Ground Transport If the recipient is transported out of the county in which the recipient was picked up, Medicaid reimburses $3.00 per mile plus the base rate. This rate begins at the point of pickup. See Authorization for Ambulance Services in chapter 2 of the ATS Handbook for information on negotiated rates for out-of-county transports greater than 30 miles. 32

33 Billing Ambulance vs. Stretcher Van Ambulance transportation services are reimbursed according to medically necessary services provided which are required for the recipient s physical and mental needs. When the recipient s condition is not listed on the Medical Conditions List, a stretcher van or other type of non-emergency transportation may be more appropriate than an ambulance. 33

34 Billing Ambulance vs. Stretcher Van (Continued) In order to be reimbursed for stretcher van services, the ambulance provider must be subcontracted to the Medicaid non-emergency transportation provider. Ambulance providers may not bill Medicaid directly for stretcher van services. 34

35 AUTHORIZATION FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES 35

36 Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation Prior Authorization Non-emergency ground or air ambulance services require prior authorization if: The recipient s medical condition is not included on the Medical Conditions List for non-emergency codes. Due to unusual circumstances, the ambulance provider requests a negotiated rate; or 36

37 Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation Prior Authorization (Continued) Non-emergency ground or air ambulance services require prior authorization if: The ambulance transportation is to a destination outside of Florida. An exception is for transportation to a facility or a provider bordering Florida (Georgia or Alabama), if Florida Medicaid recipients normally go to that border facility or provider for medically necessary services. 37

38 Authorization for Transportation from Florida to Another State For non-emergency ambulance transportation from Florida to an out-of-state destination, except to a Georgia or Alabama facility or provider that recipients normally utilize for medically necessary services; the Medicaid area office must determine that, on the basis of medical recommendations and documentation, the medically necessary, services, or necessary supplementary resources are not available to a recipient in Florida. 38

39 Once it is determined that services can only be rendered by a provider in another state, the non-emergency ambulance provider must follow the negotiated rate authorization instructions if requesting a negotiated rate for the trip. See Out-of-State Enrollment in the Florida Medicaid Provider General Handbook for information about Florida Medicaid reimbursement for an out-of-state provider and the process for filing a claim. The out-of-state services must be coordinated with the Medicaid area office. 39

40 Post Authorization The ambulance provider must request post authorization from the Medicaid area office within 20 business days of providing the non-emergency ambulance transportation services. Authorization that is requested more than 20 business days from the date of service will be denied. Exceptions can be granted for recipients who become retroactively eligible for Medicaid. 40

41 Authorization for Negotiated Rates Negotiated rates for ground or air ambulance transportation must be authorized by the Medicaid area office that has jurisdiction over the Medicaid recipient s county of residence. Providers must submit sufficient documentation to the Medicaid area office regarding the specific circumstance that necessitates a negotiated rate. 41

42 Authorization for Negotiated Rates (Continued) Negotiated rates are based on: Out-of-county transports greater than 30 miles from the point of pickup; or Circumstances in which the recipient s condition is not listed on the Medical Conditions List in effect at the time of service. 42

43 Authorization for Negotiated Rates (Continued) If the Medicaid area office denies the authorization request for a negotiated rate, the Medicaid area office must provide the ambulance provider a written statement summarizing the reason for the denial. 43

44 Approved Requests If the authorization request is approved, the Medicaid area office notifies the ambulance provider. An approved authorization is not a guarantee that Medicaid will reimburse for the service. The recipient must be eligible and the ambulance provider must be enrolled on the date of service, and the ambulance provider must submit a clean claim within the time limit for submitting claims. 44

45 Denied Requests If the prior or post authorization is denied, the Medicaid area office will notify the provider in writing within 10 business days. The recipient may request a Medicaid fair hearing of the denial to: Department of Children and Families Office of Appeals Hearings 1317 Winewood Boulevard, Building 15, Room 203 Tallahassee, Florida

47 Code HOW TO READ THE FEE SCHEDULE The number in this column identifies the procedure being billed Modifier A modifier is an alpha or numeric code that is added to a procedure code to adapt or add to the procedure code description. Description of Service The information in this column describes the service or procedure associated with the procedure code. 47

48 Standard Fee SPEC HOW TO READ THE FEE SCHEDULE The fee in this column is the standard amount Medicaid will pay for the procedure. An alphabetic code in this column indicates special requirements for submission of a claim for that procedure. A PA in the SPEC column identifies a procedure code that must be prior authorized before the provider renders the service. See Chapter 2 of the Ambulance Transportation Services Coverage and Limitations Handbook that describes Prior Authorization process for Ambulance Services. Note: See the Florida Medicaid Provider Reimbursement Handbook, CMS-1500, for additional billing information. 48

49 49

50 (Continued) 50

51 51

52 RESOURCE 52

53 Contact the Medicaid Area Offices at: Medicaid has eleven area offices that serve as local liaisons to providers and recipients. The area offices handle: claims resolution training transportation and manage Child Health Check-Up screenings on a local level 53

54 The Medicaid area offices phone numbers and addresses are available on AHCA s Web site at: where you can easily find the contact information for your local area. 54

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